Early Metrical Tales.

Edinburgh: W. & D. Laing and J. Duncan,, 1826. First edition, one of 175 copies, this copy beautifully bound. David Laing (1793-1878) was an antiquary who edited several works of Scottish literature to revive the country's ancient lost works. This collection includes romances such as "The History of Sir Egeir, Sir Gryme, and Sir Gray-Steill", "The History of Roswall and Lillian", and other medieval tales. The ancient Scottish works collected in this edition were reviewed in the Literary Gazette in 1827 as "worthy predecessors to the beautiful songs that have made its valleys haunted homes for the spirit of melody, and its glens and rivers sacred to beauty and tenderness" (p. 18). Octavo (171 x 104 mm). Frontispiece by Charles Kirkpatrick-Sharpe, portrait engraving of the Earl of Eglinton, and tailpiece by Walter Geike. Late 19th-century citron morocco by Cambolle-Duru, gilt-lettered spine, compartments decorated with gold floral motifs, raised bands, gilt fillet to covers, gilt turn-ins, gilt dentelles with binder's signature, marbled endpapers, red, green, and yellow bookmarker. Rear cover slightly scratched, else a fine copy. "Early Metrical Tales, including the History of Sir Egeir, Sir Gryme, and Sir Gray-Steill", The Literary Gazette : A weekly journal of literature, science, and the fine arts, no. 521, January 13 1827.